News

Coal and carrot ready:Frosty’s back

Forecasting the first widespread snowfalls of the season is always a
highlight. Apart from the novelty value of seeing snow, there is the
challenge of getting the detail right — how much snow and when? Will it be
disruptive? How long will it last?

Last year gave meteorologists plenty of practice as Britain experienced its
coldest winter for decades. From December 17 to January 15 it was snowy.
That was the most widespread and prolonged spell of this type here since
December 1981- January 1982. Freezing temperatures were accompanied by
snowfalls on many days with depths of 4in-8in across England and Wales, but
exceeding 11in over upland areas of northern England and the Highlands.
Satellite pictures taken on January 7 showed the UK almost completely white
with snow.

We plunged rather abruptly into winter last week. North and northeasterly
winds from Scandinavia and the Arctic brought us increasingly cold air.
Temperatures